What standards must be proven to establish negligence in New York?

To establish negligence in New York, one must demonstrate four essential elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages.

The concept of duty refers to the legal obligation that an individual has to exercise reasonable care to avoid causing harm to others. In a negligence case, it must be proven that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff.

Breach pertains to the failure to meet the established duty of care. This involves showing that the defendant acted (or failed to act) in a manner that a reasonably prudent person would not have in similar circumstances.

Causation connects the breach of duty to the plaintiff's injuries. There are typically two aspects to this: actual cause (often referred to as "cause in fact") and proximate cause, which examines whether the harm was a foreseeable result of the defendant’s actions.

Finally, damages represent the actual losses suffered by the plaintiff as a result of the defendant's negligence. This could include physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses.

The combination of these four elements forms the foundation of a negligence claim, making it crucial to establish each component for a successful case. None of the other options provide the correct framework of elements necessary to adequately prove negligence under New York law.